Plastic ban: HC extends stay on crackdown

The Delhi high court on Friday extended till April 26 its stay on the crackdown against manufacturers and users of plastic bags.

The court, which was hearing a petition filed by the plastic manufacturers’ association challenging the blanket ban on the use and manufacture of plastic bags, is set to pronounce its verdict after April 26.

“Yes. The assurance stands and we know it has not so far been broken,” Chief Justice D Murugesan told senior lawyer Arvind Nigam representing the plastic manufacturers.

Nigam had asked whether the assurance the bench extracted in December from the Delhi government and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) that they will not take any coercive action against the manufacturers and users till the court took a final stand on the petition still stood.

Ban questionedThe court asked the Delhi government to justify the ban on manufacturers of plastic bags.

“We can understand the ban on sale within Delhi and its use by public. But why a ban on manufacturers? Suppose if they manufacture and only export, are you saying that mere manufacturing is hazardous?” the bench asked the government’s counsel.

The notification had come into force from November 23, 2012. Plastic bags include those used to cover magazines, books and invitation cards.